Saturday, November 25, 2017

It is with great joy that we announce a new adventure between Global Ministries University (http://www.globalministriesuniversity.org ) and People’s Catholic Seminary (www.pcseminary.org ). Beginning in January, 2018, we will collaboratively offer a Master in Pastoral Ministry degree. The degree will be granted by GMU and PCS will provide the courses. This affordable master’s program is designed for those who are walking the pathway to ordination, the ordained, and members of our inclusive communities who seek to continue their education within an interactive supportive seminary environment. Credit is awarded for life experience and previous education. Global Ministries University is an accredited member of the International Association of Distance Learning. Scholarship Funds Available-For more information: about Lucile Murray Durkin Scholarship for Women Discerning Priestly Ordination:http://www.womensordination.org/programs/scholarship/For more information about the degree, please contact Bridget Mary Meehan and Mary Theresa Streck at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com.

GLOBAL MINISTRIES UNIVERSITY and PEOPLE's CATHOLIC SEMINARY

MASTER IN PASTORAL MINISTRY

100 Introductory / Foundational101. Contemporary Theology for the People of God102. Feminist Introduction to the Bible103. A Feminist Sacramental Theology

200 Jesus, Life and Teachings201. Rediscovering Jesus in a Companionship of Empowerment202. Parables as Subversive Stories

300 Women and Religion301. Spiritual Encounters with Women Mystics302. Women in the Hebrew Scripture303. Women in the Gospels304. Women in the Early Church

400 Sacraments401. Sacraments: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow402. Eucharist: Embracing an Open Table403. Baptism and Confirmation 404. Reshaping the Priesthood as a Discipleship of Equals405. Marriage, Sexuality and Just-Love406. Anointing of the Sick407: Sacrament of Reconciliation

MM101. Contemporary Theology for the People of God This course introduces pastoral leaders in inclusive communities to an accessible contemporary theology that presents a tapestry of the Divine Presence Who lovingly invites us into the fullness of life for all creation, explores the diverse and fuller naming of the Divine that encompasses the full reality of women and men of all races and classes, and illuminates a rich variety of theological approaches to compassionate living in our work for peace, justice and ecological wholeness.

MM102. Feminist Introduction to the Bible This course presents a comprehensive, biblical reading of the Scripture and introduces the message using historical/critical tools to understand the different authors.

MM103. A Feminist Sacramental TheologyThis course offers a feminist analysis of the main dimensions of sacramental theology –those have to do with the body, with symbols, and with ethics, exposes how women because of gender are given a place on the margins- outside of the sacraments proposes that women involved in sacramental ministry contribute to sacramental theology through their commitment to the wider church, and reimagines a feminist sacramental theology for the 21st century.

MM201. Rediscovering Jesus in a Companionship of EmpowermentThis course introduces the deep wisdom of recent biblical scholarship on the life and teachings of Jesus and the challenges it presents to believers today, and reimagines the Christian call to live as co-creators and empowered individuals within an egalitarian church community.

MM301. Spiritual Encounters with Women MysticsThis course explores the Christian’s call to be a visible mystic and agent of prophetic witness in the church and world community through a ministry rooted in contemplation and action.

MM302. Women in the Hebrew ScriptureThis course recounts the stories of women in the Hebrew Scripture as an inspirational example of women’s empowerment, encompasses scholarship of feminist theologians on the background and context of women in the bible, and offers women as role models for contemporary women and men in living fully and courageously.

MM303. Women in the GospelsThis course studies the stories of women in the Gospel as companions and equals with the male disciples, incorporates feminist theological scholarship on the background and context of women in the Gospels, and explores women in the Gospel as role models for contemporary women and men in ministry.

MM304. Women in the Early ChurchThis course covers the stories of women in the early Church as liturgical leaders and preachers of the Gospel, reflects feminist theological scholarship on the background and context of women in the early Church and to explore women in the early Church as role models for contemporary women and men leading the church today toward a new model of partnership, equality and inclusivity.

MM401. Sacraments: Yesterday, Today and TomorrowThis course presents sacramental development throughout history, exposes how church fathers and scholastic theologians misinterpreted ancient texts to prove Catholic doctrine, introduces critical analysis of sacramental theologies that no longer meet the needs of contemporary Catholics and reimagines sacramental experiences and rituals in a diversified global church.

MM402. Eucharist: Embracing an Open TableThis course covers the development of the sacrament of the Eucharist from atonement theology to a theology of blessing, supports pastoral leaders in developing and praying contemporary Eucharistic celebrations through the liturgical year and builds a database of creative resources for a contemporary lectionary.

MM403. Baptism and Confirmation This course explores the development of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, articulates the commitment to Gospel living by integrating theological reflection, spirituality and ministerial experience, and supports pastoral leaders in developing contemporary baptism and confirmation rituals for their Christian Communities that reflect the heart of the call to live the Gospel as mystics, prophets and sacramental celebrators of life.

MM404. Reshaping the Priesthood as a Discipleship of EqualsThis course examines the role of the international Roman Catholic Women Priests’ Movement in reshaping and redefining priestly and pastoral ministry as a discipleship of equals in the 21st century.

MM405. Marriage, Sexuality and Just-LoveThis course provides an overview of the development of the sacrament of marriage, and presents Christian sexual ethics within a just-love framework. It integrates theological reflection, spirituality and ministerial experience in order to support pastoral leaders in developing contemporary marriage rituals for their Christian Communities that reflect the heart of the call to live the Gospel as mystics, prophets and sacramental celebrators of life.

MM406. Anointing of the SickThis course explores the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick as an encounter with divine healing love that energizes and transforms body, mind, and spirit, reflects on meditation as a tool in self-healing and vitality, and creates create contemporary celebrations of Anointing of the Sick that respond to diverse pastoral needs.

MM407. Sacrament of ReconciliationThis course presents the sacrament of reconciliation as an encounter with Divine healing and transforming love, reflects on role of priest and community, and creates a contemporary celebration of reconciliation that responds to diverse pastoral needs.

MM501. Future Church: Evolving, Empowering and EgalitarianThe course proposes a visionary framework for understanding the evolution of religions and specifically the transitions that continue to evolve in Christianity. Paul Smith, author of Integral Christianity introduces the integral approach that Jesus advocated in his time and that traditional Christianity has been unable to see. This course invites participants to analyze this framework and apply it to the present evolving changes occurring in Christianity, specifically the Roman Catholic Church.

MM502. Social Justice and EthicsThis course explores issues and theologies of social justice and ethics that build a just society; reflects on the scriptural foundations of Catholic social teaching, and examines the social and moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church in light of concrete issues such as human rights, refugees, peace-building, war, violence, discrimination, environmental degradation, economic exploitation, reproductive rights, racism, sexism, and homophobia.

MM601. Homiletics and PreachingThis course creates inspiring homilies and implements effective delivery, incorporates contemporary scholarship of scripture for preaching and introduces various approaches of sermon development and performance.

MM602. Spiritual Direction: Spiritual Companions on a JourneyThis course provides an introduction to the ancient practice of spiritual companionship or spiritual friendship in the Christian tradition. It gives helpful input about what to look for in searching for a spiritual director, how to prepare to be one, and how to help those who are called to this distinctive ministry.

MM603. Spirituality of ArtThis course provides a path to creative expression of the Divine Presence and oneness of all people and creation. Through readings, videos, art-making, students will express their mystical, prophetic, sacramental vision of ministry for the 21st century.

MM700. Master in Ministry: Ministerial Project (6 credits)A student will choose a primary focus of ministry that is related to the student’s interests and/or practices of ministry as the topic of the Master of Ministry Project. The written reflection on this Master of Ministry Project should state the goals of the selected ministry action, and clearly demonstrate the student’s knowledge and skills in the practice of ministry. This project should also describe the context of ministerial action, and integrate the learning from course work and readings in the Master of Ministry program. It should articulate the student’s vision of ministry, a description of personal gifts, opportunities, challenges, hopes and dreams for self and others involved in the project. The reflection paper should also describe the participation of people/faith community in the project and conclude with an annotated bibliography of sources used in the ministry project. The student should work closely with the administrators during this phase of the program.

Let us begin in the name of our God; a God of Love, Liberation and Wisdom.

Opening Song: #628 “We Are Called” – all verses

PENITENTIAL RITE (All raise hands extended in prayer)

ALL: God, Father and Mother of Mercy, through his living, dying and rising, Jesus has revealed that nothing can separate us from your infinite love. May You give us pardon and peace, and may we forgive each other our failures to care for one another and our earth. We make this prayer in the name of God our Creator, and of Jesus, our brother, and of the Holy Spirit, our wisdom. Amen.

OPENING PRAYERPresider: O God, your love is truth and mercy, yet we so often fear you. Open our eyes to your goodness and let us realize the full life to which we are called. We ask this O God of the evolving universe who invites each of us to focus on you and the beauty that rests in each of us. Amen.

Today,
we celebrate the last week of what Michael prefers to call Extraordinary Time,
in Liturgical Year C. Next week we will begin the Season of Advent which begins
Liturgical Year A readings. This week most of the church celebrates the Feast
of Christ the King. Other communities, however, are celebrating the Feast of
the Cosmic Christ which reflects an updated theology of the God of love and
mercy. By emphasizing the theology of the Cosmic Christ, not a theology of
Christ as King who is above all or one who judges and punishes, we focus on a
God who loves us and delights in us.

The
first reading from Ezekielreflects the
endearing story of the Good Shepherd who loves his sheep. He knows them and
they know him. The people of the days in which these scriptures were written
could relate to and easily understand this as an example of how God loves us.
Even today people love this story and so often read or sing Psalm 23 – The Lord
is my Shepherd.I love it too, but there
is more.

People
today are aware of the magnificent reality of evolution of how we have evolved
over the 14 billion years from the time of the Big Bang and how our mother
earth came into existence 4 billion years ago. Then from the time of the
evolution of humankind, people throughout the earth have tried to define and
understand that which is more than human. We know there is something deeper and
all-encompassing and that is the God of many names. As Christians, our
understanding of God is evolving and growing. We see a Creator God in
relationship with Jesus who took on our humanity, and the Spirit who has and
continues to breathe life into us and our world.

For
some of us the title, the Cosmic Christ, is not one with which we are familiar.
We may have heard it but we may not fully understand it. The second and third
readings are just teasers into our opening up our understanding of the Cosmic
Christ.

As the
third reading by Richard Rohr says, “Christ is not Jesus' last name”. Christ is
more than the historical Jesus. Christ existed long before Jesus was among us
as a human being and long after Jesus' resurrection.

In a
recent article, “Incarnation as Embodiment of Spirit” by Diarmuid O'Murchu, he
made this contemporary theology much clearer. O'Murchu said “Traditionally the
word 'Incarnation' denotes the coming of God into the world in the person and
life of Jesus, which happened for the first and only time 2000 years ago”. He
continues “ I want to challenge the narrow reductionism of the inherited
tradition and, instead, offer an evolutionary perspective in which we
understand Incarnation as a process of embodiment that has been going on for
billions of years”. He uses a quote from theologian Sallie McFague who says
”God loves bodies!” O'Murchu continues “And the first and oldest body through
which God reveals Godself is not the human, but the cosmos itself”. He goes on
to say that “God's embodiment in the human does not begin with Jesus of
Nazareth, nor with a non-evolutionary understanding of the human, dating back
to a mere 5 -10 thousand years. Instead we need an enlarged view of God's
embodiment in the human stretching right back to 7 million years ago”.

So then
the next question for us to ask is, why did Jesus come to earth just 2000 years
ago? O'Murchu suggests that the coming of Jesus “signifies an affirmation,
confirmation, and celebration of all that has evolved in and through our
humanity over 7 million years”. Then he takes it one step further, he says
“Jesus did not come to rescue us from anything. Salvation becomes our primary
responsibility through learning afresh what it means to be authentically human
upon our Spirit-infused earth”. He concludes the article “Jesus achieved this
integrity in a uniquely remarkable way, leaving us a blueprint on how to become
incarnational people in a more authentic way”.

Well,
what do you think of these ideas?

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Presider: Let us now proclaim our statement of faith:

All: We believe in God, the Creator – the source of everything that exists in the universe. We believe that God’s divinity infuses all life, in all forms, everywhere with holiness. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, through whom we have become a new people, called beyond the consequences of our brokenness. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Breath of Life in the cosmos and the One who keeps the Christ vision present to everyone, searching for meaning and wholeness. We believe that you energize those people whose spirits may grow weary in the process. We say: Amen to courage, to hope, to the spirit of truth. We say amen to the partnership and equality of all persons, genders, and colors. We believe in justice and peace for everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions. In all of this, O God, we surely believe.

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

Presider: Aware of God’s unconditional love for us, we, as people of faith, lift up our needs to our gracious God.

Response: Let the Christ within us, respond in love.

Presider: We pray for peace in our world , and in our hearts.

Presider: We pray for the millions of people suffering from useless and destructive wars.

Presider: We pray for the people of Puerto Rico and all the victims of recent hurricanes and disasters.

Presider: And for what else shall we pray?

Presider: Healing God, we ask you to strengthen us in our concerns for one another, here and throughout the world. We ask you to bless our efforts for peace, justice and equality so that, with our sisters and brothers, we may promote cultures of peace and nonviolence in our world. As we always do, we make these prayers to you, O God, our Creator,of Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom Amen.

Offertory Song: “# 310 “Table of Plenty” – all verses

Presider: Blessed are you, God of Creation, through your goodness we have this bread to offer, this grain of the earth that human hands have prepared for our use. It will become for us the bread of life.

All: Blessed be God forever.

Presider: Blessed are you, God of Creation, through your goodness we have this wine to offer, this fruit of the vine that human hands have prepared for our use. It will become for us our spiritual drink.

All: Blessed be God forever.

Presider: Jesus, who has often sat at our tables, now invites all of us to join him at his. Everyone is welcome to share in this meal. Please join us around our family table.

Presider: Let us give thanks to the Creator of all that exists.

All: With hearts full of love, we give God thanks and praise.

Presider: Let us acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit among us gathered at the family table.

All: We will develop our respect and reverence for you, for one another, and for all creation.

Presider: Let us lift up our hearts.

All: We lift them up to the One who lives in us – and loves others through us.

Presider: Christ dwells in each one of us.

All: Namaste!

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER: NOURISH MY PEOPLE – Diarmuid O’Murchu

Voice: God of life, you nurture and sustain your people.You bless us with abundance; you gift us with your graciousness;you know our every need.

In the birthing forth of creation you call us into being.You gift us with health and wholeness; you sustain our every endeavor.You feed your hungering people.

Voice: You call us to work for justice, to share our table with all creation,to feed the needy at our door, to see nobody left in need.

For the blessing of your gifts, and the challenge of your call to us,we lift our voices as we acclaim in song your gracious love:

“We are holy, holy, holy, we are whole” (You, I, We) (Karen Drucker)

Voice: The table we share is adorned with the gifts of creation,gifts given for all to share in equality and justice, a table where all are welcome,and from which nobody is to be excluded, from the greatest even to the least.

As a Christian people we celebrate the open table,proclaimed by Jesus our liberator and our friend,a table of abundant life, inclusive love, and redemptive liberation.

Voice: In the power of the creative Spirit, Jesus lived life to the full.We, too, are blessed in the power of that same Spirit,which we now invoke upon all gathered here,to celebrate the transformative energysymbolized in our gifts of bread and wine,given to nourish and sustain us into the fullness of life.

ALL: While sharing a feast at table, Jesus took bread,blessed you, God of all good gifts.Jesus broke the bread and along with the cup,shared it among friends, and said:Take this all of you and eat and drink:this is my body which will be given up for you.

ALL: After the meal, Jesus took another cup,poured out in a spirit of solidarity and empowerment.Jesus gave thanks and shared the cup with his friends,saying: Take this all of you and drink from it; this is the cup of my life-blood,the life of the new and everlasting covenant.In prophetic solidarity, it is poured out for you and for all.Sustain one another in the power of sacred memory.

Voice: As we celebrate this Eucharistic feast, we call to mind that we are a peoplenourished throughout the ages; and we look forward in hope to that daywhen the justice of our God will guarantee foodfor all who hunger for the fullness of life.

Voice: In the spirit of this celebration, we rejoice and thank our God for allwe have received; but we do so in the painful awarenessof all who are excluded from the table of God’s abundant life.

Presider: This prayer we make in union with all God’s people, living and dead,and particularly with those laboring for justice in our world.May we all know the blessing of our loving God,Creator, Liberator, and Holy Spirit, in whose power we gather here,nourished and sustained, now and forever.

Amen: (sung) #936 “Amen, Amen, A—men”

ALL: (sung) Our Father and Mother…………

Sign of Peace

Presider : As we prepare to bring our gifts in the celebration of this Eucharist, let us strive to be faithful to the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. And where we struggle, may God transform us to be a healing balm of love. Divine healer of all, we pray.

All: Amen.

Presider: Let us share a sign of peace with one another as an expression of our recognizing the Christ that lives within each of us.

Intrumental:

LITANY FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD

Presider: Let us join then with the disciples of all ages, as we pray together:

Presider: Christ of the Cosmos, ALL: we will live our oneness with you and all creation.

Christ of the Cosmos, ALL: we will work for the healing of the earth.

Christ of the Cosmos, All: we will celebrate rising up in a global communion everywhere.

SHARING OF THE MEAL:

Presider: This is Jesus, the Cosmic Christ, who called women and men to be partners and equals, and who liberates, heals and transforms us and our world. All are invited to partake of this sacred banquet of love.

Presider: Jesus, you invite us to receive you and become you for others. We are the Body of Christ. May the Source of Life whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, be given glory through all generations. Amen

Distribution of Bread and Wine: You are the Body of Christ. You are the Blood of Christ.

In this Omega Center interview Brie Stoner engages in conversation with prominent evolutionary thinker and writer Diarmuid O’Murchu, discussing topics from his most recent book Incarnation: An Evolutionary Threshold. Fundamental to this book are the questions “What does Incarnation mean for each of us?” and “What are the practical applications and implications that arise from this question?” Diarmuid suggests we need an expanded view of “the body” and embodiment, and an evolutionary approach to gender, relationships, sexuality, desire, personal boundaries, paradox, and suffering.

The way forward is the call to justice, the call to bring about a world in which there is greater participation and mutuality and empowerment —and that will involve a certain amount of suffering —but that’s suffering for the sake of a greater good….and that’s the suffering that makes more evolutionary sense, and in the long term makes more spiritual and theological sense. And I think that’s the kind of suffering Jesus wanted us to take on.

We hope you enjoy this very engaging and thought-provoking conversation.

Brie Stoner is a mother of two boys, a Michigan dweller, musician, writer, student and 2015 graduate of the Living School for Action and Contemplation. Brie currently serves as a program designer for the Center for Action and Contemplation. She is enrolled in the Chicago Theological Seminary’s graduate program, and hopes to earn her M.A. continuing her studies on Teilhard de Chardin, whose work she regularly writes about on her own blog Becoming Ultra Human.